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Qatar donates $30m to help Harvey victims in Texas

Qatar Tribune | September 9, 2017

Qatar’s contribution is the largest from a foreign government to assist the devastated stretches of the Texas coast.

Qatar is donating $30 million to help people in Texas recover from Hurricane Harvey, Qatar Ambassador to the US Meshal bin Hamad al Thani has said.

The amount is apparently the largest contribution from a foreign government to assist the devastated stretches of the Texas coast.

Qatar pledged the funds through the newly created Qatar Harvey Fund, which would work with Texas Governor Greg Abbott, local organisations and other Texas officials including the Houston mayor.

The funds will be used”to help rebuild communities”affected by flooding.

“Texans are stronger than any storm and will come back bigger and better, and Qatar stands ready to help our friends at every turn,” the ambassador said in a statement that emphasised Qatar’s ties with Texas, including its consulate in Houston.

It came the same day that the UAE announced its own $10m donation to help Harvey victims.

Several other countries have offered smaller amounts along with non-monetary assistance.

Abbott said he was”amazed and humbled” at how people from around the world had shown support for Texas after the hurricane.

“Texas and Qatar have a long-standing partnership, and I thank the government of Qatar for their generosity and support for Texas and our citizens as we begin the long road to recovery,” Abbott said.

Harvey killed at least 70 people in a storm system that escalated to a Category 4 hurricane before striking Texas last month, dropping more than a metre of rain over the Houston area. Abbott has said recovery could cost as much as $180bn.

Qatar opened a consulate in Texas in 1997 and also has ties to the state’s natural gas industry. The country says more than 450 Qataris live there. Doha hosts a satellite campus of Texas A&M University.